Engaging the Nikko (Part 1)

Posted on Fri Jul 22nd, 2022 @ 8:20am by Captain Maho Takahashi & Commander Keisuke Takahashi 'K.T.' & Commander Seiji Iwaki 'Hawk' & Lieutenant Commander Tristana & Commander Ichika Misono & Lieutenant Commander Brandon Pratt & Lieutenant Commander Brennyn Scott M.D. & Lieutenant JG Jane Sinclair & Lieutenant Alisha Reno & Ensign Ruby Kurosawa
Edited on on Fri Jul 22nd, 2022 @ 8:20am

1,596 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Trade Troubles
Location: Korinar system
Timeline: Present; one week since departure from Utopia Planitia

The USS Myogi dropped out of warp in the Korinar system. The whole ship was at yellow alert, as they were now fully in hostile territory, as opposed to remaining on the Federation side of the border as was originally planned. However, it appeared that catching Commander Iwaki would require his level of boldness.

"Captain; short, medium, and long range sensors are online, and set to detect Federation equipment." Tristana reported. "If the Nikko is here, we'll find it."

"Thank you, Lieutenant." Maho responded. "All ships' personnel; stay double frosty. I'm sure none of us are too comfortable with the idea of hanging out in Klingon Space for too long."

"We've gotten in touch with Ambassador Vro'Lakh and requested that he place all Klingon vessels passing through the Korinar system on high alert," Ichika reported. "Should any of them encounter the Nikko, we should be able to intercept them in as little as 40 minutes."

Brandon wasn’t concerned they were in Klingon space. He was concerned that they would frack with his engines. Keeping apprised on the bridge of the Myogi there was an open coms channel being played throughout the Department.
“Aries.” Pratt called. “Let’s get those interlocks battened down. And don’t tell me you’ve already done them; I don’t like the way they were done the first go around.”

Alisha resisted shaking her head from her console as she heard the response through the comm from Brandon's NCO, no expression on her face at all. "Initial scans don't show Nikko's warp or impulse signatures in-system. Anticipated arrival window spans within the next severty-three minutes, Captain."

"Thank you, Lieutenant." Maho responded. "Lieutenant, keep scanning for them." She ordered Tristana. "There's a chance they might be lying in a state of low power; it's an old trick used to catch smugglers."

"Aye, sir." Tristana responded.

“We’ve assumed a standard search pattern, Captain,” called Jane from the helm station. The pattern was a grid, conducted at impulse, meant to bring short and medium range sensors to bear on as wide an area as possible in as short a time as possible, leaving no stone unturned. “Speed is presently one-half impulse.”

"Sir, we're detecting the signature of a Nebula Class computer core:" Tristana reported. "Its signature matches that of the Nikko. According to sensor data, we should be entering visual range now:"

The main viewscreen showed the darkened outline of a Nebula class starship coming into view.

"No doubt that's what we came all this way looking for;" Maho said. "Ops, open a hailing frequency:"

From her position on the bridge, Bree observed the goings-on quietly. So far, the crew seemed to be working together like a well oiled machine. Naturally, there was some tension and underlying apprehension, but so far, everyone seemed to be on task.

"Frequency open" Ruby said from the operations console.

"Attention Federation vessel; this is Captain Maho Takahashi of the USS Myogi:" Maho spoke. "Your presence in this system is in violation of the Second Khitomer Accords, and as the Accords permit, I am required to escort you back to Federation space immediately."

When Maho finished speaking, the hail was answered, and Maho found herself face to face with Commander Seiji Iwaki; the man they had been tasked with bringing in.

"Ah, Captain Takahashi:" Seiji spoke in a pleasant tone. "To what do I owe the pleasure of speaking to you today?"

"Commander Iwaki;" Maho responded. "I am here to escort you back to Federation space, after which, by order of Starfleet Command and the Federation Council, I am authorized to place you under arrest. You will surrender yourself and transport on board upon our arrival. The Nikko will be under the command of your next available command officer."

A moment of silence passed before Seiji suddenly burst out laughing.

"That's funny, but your face is enough of a joke for today, kid." He said.

Scott kept her face inscrutable, but inside, she perked up. This would be the first time she would observe the captain after being challenged so openly. Given all she has been through, Scott was curious to see how she would cope. The reaction she received was certainly unexpected, to put it mildly.

"Do I look like I'm joking, Commander?" Maho asked.

"Don't you get it?" Seiji responded. "It doesn't matter anymore, sweet cheeks! Okay, let's say you're successful at arresting and trying me; I'll still be back at this in a couple weeks' time. If Taiga Aisaka can get away with mass murder, any captain can get away with any crime for any reason. That's just how the galaxy works now! And if you still believe our justice system isn't broken, well, you're just a fool." Seiji grinned. "You won't be safe in Taiga Aisaka's Federation... None of us will be:"

Before Maho could respond, the channel was severed moments before the Myogi shook as the now fully-powered Nikko opened fire and the red alert Klaxons began sounding.

"The Nikko has opened fire!" Tristana reported.

"You think?" Maho responded. "Red alert! All hands battle stations!"

A firm expletive sounded in Scott's head as the red alert klaxons sounded. She had been formulating her own impressions of the man and what guidance she might offer, when things changed drastically. She hesitated momentarily with whether to stay on the bridge or head to Sickbay, and for now decided to stay where she was. Diplomacy didn't look likely now, but that didn't mean it was going to be impossible.

"Helm, bring us around!" Ichika barked, quickly assuming her seat. "Security, ready the photon torpedoes! We are not letting this sonofabitch get away!"

"Loading photon torpedoes now!" Tristana responded

At the helm, Jane’s fingers deftly moved across the console, taking the Myogi precisely where she wanted it. “Assuming attack pattern gamma,” she reported. Wide arc around incoming weapons and putting forward firing arcs toward the enemy, mouth slight angle to the port side to veer off and strike with starboard-arc weapons as they pulled away. Right now though, they were beginning the maneuver, on a near direct course for their opponent.

On the Nikko's bridge, Seiji watched as the New Orleans class starship began to maneuver around his vessel and return fire.

"Full spread of photon torpedoes!" Seiji ordered. "I want that ship destroyed, NOW!"

"Intel, do you have the Nikko's prefix code or their shield frequency?" Maho asked. "If we can get something through their shields, we might stand a chance."

Maho knew the prefix code would be a longshot. If Iwaki hadn't changed it, he'd know to utilize the override once the order to lower the Nikko's shields was remotely given.

"No, ma'am, they've changed the internal coding and shield frequencies from their last recorded information in my database." Alisha said solemnly, mind racing. Hiro Dorev, working with Iwaki? Or dead? If he were a part of this, he would have been the one to insist on the changes and might have even done it himself. He had a fascination with numbers, especially... "Set weapons penetration frequency to 242.42, remodulation up and down using the square root of seven." If Hiro were alive and cooperating, they'd know within moments.

Maho shot Alisha a glance of low confidence. If what Lieutenant Reno had said was true, then recalibrating the Myogi's weapons wouldn't do anything.

"Recalibrating weapons, and... Firing!" Tristana declared.

The Myogi fired off 3 photon torpedoes a the Nikko under a barrage of phaser fire. However, the torpedoes and phasers only struck the Nikko's shields.

"Shields down to 40%:" An ops officer on board the Nikko reported. "We can't take much more of this."

"Auxiliary power to shields:" Iwaki ordered. "If Takahashi thinks she can take us alive, she's got another think coming!"

The Niko responded in kind with a volley of phaser fire, landing on the dorsal side of the Myogi's saucer.

The Myogi shook as the Nikko's hits landed.

"Damage report!" Maho shouted.

"Hull breaches on Decks 4, 5, and 7." Tristana reported. "That's a lot of firepower for a Nebula!"

"Sinclair, get us clear:" Maho ordered. "We're sitting ducks on our current course!"

"Yes, ma'am!" Jane called. "Two-six-eight-mark-one-two, full impulse." At her input, the ship accelerated and veered away at top speed, presenting a smaller profile to the Nikko as they moved away. "Evasive action," she said next, making the ship move back and forth, up and down, randomly to try to break target locks.

"Let's... hope... everyone's... strapped in," Ichika grunted, holding onto the arms of her chair for dear life as the Myogi maneuvered sharply to avoid the Nikko's barrage.

"If anyone has any ideas on how we can punch through their shields, I'm open to suggestions." Maho stated.

"Didn't Senpai recently invest in having our fighters' weapons upgraded?" Keisuke suggested. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's put them to use!"

Maho stroked her chin. She had seen the files of the pilots they had on hand, and they weren't entirely confidence-inspiring, but if their fighters were in the field, they might be able to bolster the Myogi's weapons enough to punch a hole in the Nikko's shields and cripple the ship enough for them to send boarding parties over.

"It's risky," She said. "But then again, what choice do we have? Our backs are against the wall here."

To Be Continued...

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